The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-01-09
LOST In SIGHT OF LAND.
Five Members of the Life Saving Service and
q Portion of Ships Crew Drowned.

NORFOLK, Va, Jan. S.-One Of the most dis
astrous shipwrecks which ever occurred on the
Virginia coast happened at o'clock this morn
ing near the Little Island iife-saving station,
fourteen miles south of Cape Henry. Not less
than twenty, and probably more, lives were lost,
among them five life-saving men, who, in the
discharge Of their duty. were drowned. The
morning was bitterly cold, and binding
snow-storm prevailing, with the wind blow
ing q gale from the northwest. During
lull in the storm the life-saying patrol
from Little Island life-saving station sighted
large ship stranded on the bar about eight hun
dred yards from the shore When he saw the
vessel he was going to meet the patrol from
Dam Neck station and exchange checks showing
that both patrolmen had been to the end OF
their beat. The Dam Neck patrol was only q
few yards distant when the vessel was sighted,
and both fired rockets to notify the crew Of the
stranded ship that she had been seen. They
hurried back to their respective stations
and gave the alarm. In little
while both crews, with lfeboa and
apparatus we're abreast of the wreck, and the
boom of mortar announced that line had
been shot out to the Inflated vessel. The shot
was unsuccessful, and second was fred with
like result. After firing six unsuccessful shots,
the life-saving men determined to brave the
fury of the sea and the death that seemed GER
tain to await their venture The word of COM
mand being given by Captain Belanza. of life
saving station No. 4, known as Little Island, six
of the most expert boatmen manned each boat.
At Ills command the men gave way with will;
and, in a moment, both boats were breasting the
furious waves. They reached the ship in safety,
and five of the ships crew were taken in a life
boat and ten in ships boat, which was launched
for the purpose.
The boats headed for shore, and not word
was spoken, for each man realized the awful
peril which surrounded them. With a steady
pull the two boats were making good Roadway
for shore, when a wave of great power struck
both boats capsizng them instantly and pitch
ing their twenty-five occupants into the boiling
sea. Then began desperate struggle for life,
and with many of the men it was prolonged
one. The Mortified lifesav on the beach were
powerless to assist their drowning comrades or
the unfortunate strangers. The drowning men
were carried southwark by the SEAS and some
Of them were washed ashore. AS they came
within reach they were picked up, and endeavors
were made to revive them, and in two instances
with success, although one of the two is badly
injured.
The vessel is the German ship Elizabeth, Capt
Halberstadt, from Hamburg to Baltimore, and
not one of her crew survives her wreck. Her
cargo Is unknown as the high seas have thus
far prevented any attempt to reach her. 1t is
though she is leaking badly, and at sunset hel
masts were thought to be giving away. OF the
life saving crew the following were lost
ABEL BELANzA, captain of No. T. known a.
Little Island.
j. w. LAND, same station.
GEORGE w. STONE, same.
j. A. BELANZA, of Dam Neck Station, and brother
of Abel.
JOSEPH SPRATLEY. of Dam Neck.
John Etheridge and Frank Tetford, of No 4
station, were washed ashore and resuscitated
but Etheridge is so badly Injured that it il
thought he cannot survive
WASHINGTON, JAM S.-The signal corps sta
ton at Dam Neck, Va, reports that the masts
of the stranded ship are loose, and that she will
probably be total wreck. No particulars Of
the casualties, beyond those contained in the
| Norfolk dispatch, have been received.